Automatic dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed an automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing a solution formed from a solid material into a process stream when the liquid level of the process stream drops below a pre-determined level. The apparatus is particularly adaptable to use in a toilet flush tank and comprises a float valve operative to dispense a metered amount of solution into the flush tank at the end of the flush cycle.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,831,205 Foley 5] Aug. 27, 1974 1 AUTOMATIC DISPENSING APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 lnventori y Foley, Francisco, Calif' 10466 9/1906 Great Britain 4/228 4,743 6/1914 Great Britain. 4/228 [73] Assgnee' gfi Company Oakland 974,648 10/1950 France 4/228 1,278,126 10/1961 France 4/227 [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 Primary Examiner-Harvey G. Hornsby [21] Appl' 240,530 Assistant ExaminerDona1d B. Massenberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Phil1ips, Moore, [52] US. Cl. 4/228 Weissenberger, Lempio & Strabala [51] Int. Cl E0301 9/02 [58] Fleld of Search 4/228, 227, 222 [57] ABSTRACT 5 References Cited There is disclosed an automatic dispensing apparatus UNITED STATES PATENTS for dispensing a solution formed from a solid material into a process stream when the liquid level of the prog fi cess stream drops below a pre-determined level. The 1 O9l374 3/1914 s 4/228 apparatus is particularly adaptable to use in a toilet 131751032 3/1916 will1211116 11:11:31.... 1:: 4/228 flush tank and comprises a float Valve Operative to 2351580 6/1944 Beckman I I I n 4/227 X pense a metered amount of solution into the flush tank 2,913,734 11/1959 OHare 4/227 at the end of the fl y 2,967,310 l/1961 OHare 4/227 3,339,801 9/1967 Hronas- 4/228 x 9 Clam, 4 Draw'ng figures "II..." In.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a dispensing device and pertains more particularly to an apparatus for automatically dispensing a metered amount of disinfectant and cleaning solution into a toilet bowl or the like at the end of the flush cycle.

Automatic toilet bowl cleaners have been developed in an attempt to eliminate the unpleasant chore of man ual cleaning. Such automatic devices currently on the market, however, have numerous drawbacks.

One major drawback to some currently available devices is that they dispense an excessive amount of cleaner solution into the flush water. This results in waste generally as a result of forming a sanitizing solution of the total volume of water in the flush tank. This is typical of .those devices which make use of a watersoluble cake placed in the flush tank which is free to dissolve to its limit of solubility in the entire tank of water. Since this is normally several gallons of water, most of which is flushed through the bowl, it results in the waste of most of the cleansing solution.

Other devices employ a container placed in the flush tank and have a valve actuated by the flushing of the toilet to dispense a quantity of sanitizing solution into the flush water. These normally dispense in such a way as to treat the entire tank of water and again, most of the solution passes through the bowl and is wasted.

Both liquid and solid sanitizing chemicals are available for such use. However, each form has advantages and disadvantages. The major advantages of solid material lie in its higher concentration, and the ease of packaging, handling, and shipping. One disadvantage is that a solution must be formed in situ, thus requiring a more complex dispenser if waste is to be avoided.

Many of the devices available which employ valves are usually unduly complicated. Those which do not employ valves tend to leak solution due to convective flow. Many devices of either type require critical positioning within the toilet flush tank.

The prior art approaches to these problems are exemplified by the following US. Pat. Nos. 685,020, issued Oct. 22, 1901 to J. H. Venners; 969,729, issued Sept. 6, l9l0 to A. E. Smith; 1,091,374, issued Mar. 24, 1914 to W. L. Miller; and, 1,175,032, issued Mar. 14, 1916 to E. R. Williams. These, however, have one or more of the above or other disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide apparatus that overcomes above and other problems of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus that is inexpensive, simple to install and maintain, and that eliminates the waste of prior art devices for dispensing cleaning solutions and the like into the flush water of a toilet.

In accordance with a primary aspect of the present invention, a dispenser is provided that is placed in a flush tank and forms a sanitizing solution from cake material and dispenses a metered amount of the solution into the flush water of a toilet at the end of the flush cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the followingdescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, in section, of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. l, but with the dispensing valve closed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along lines III-III of FIG. 4; and,

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The dispenser comprises a container or receptacle 12 having a generally upward directed opening and adapted to receive and contain a charge of chemical solution or material 14, preferably in the solid state. The container 12 is adapted to rest on the bottom 16 of the flush tank of a toilet or the like. The container 12 is preferably of a height such that the top or opening extends a short distance above the low water level designated by the letter A, which represents the end of the flush cycle. The container 12 is fitted or provided with a dispenser-overcap 18 which comprises a closure member detachably fitted or secured to the top of the container 12 by suitable means such as threads.

The dispenser closure assembly is formed to have generally upwardly or vertically extending walls 20 formed to form a suitable chemical space or reservoir 22 for containing a suitable quantity of solution to be discharged. A suitable discharge or dispensing tube or spout 24 communicates by way of a port or opening 26 with the interior of the container 12 and the bottom of the solution reservoir 22.

A suitable float operated valve member 28 is operative to close the port 26 to prevent the flow of liquid from the solution reservoir by way of the spout 24. The valve 28 is operatively connected by means of a guide shaft 30 to a float assembly 34 upon passing through an opening 32 atop of the chamber 22. The float assembly 34 comprises a generally cylindrical body portion 36 encircling the walls 20 of the chamber 22. An annular skirt 38 extends outward and down from the body member 36 to form a generally annular downwardly opening air cavity 40. The air cavity 40 is interrupted by walls 42 to provide a passage for the extension of the spout 24 thereby and through a slot 44 formed in the skirt 38. The air cavity 40 traps air when submerged in liquid and results in the float assembly being buoyant, and forced upward when submerged in water.

A water or liquid inlet tube 46 extends through the top of the cap 18 to convey water downward below the chamber 22 into close proximity with the upper surface of the solid chemical material 14, causing turbulence, and thus aiding in formation of chemical solution therefrom. An outlet or escape hole 48 pennits air to escape from the inside of the container and chamber 22.

OPERATION In operation, the apparatus being filled or charged with a cake or the like of suitable chemical material 14, is placed inside a flush tank resting on the bottom 16 thereof. The float assembly 34, being buoyant due to the air trapped in cavity 40, will rise upward as shown in FIG. 2 until the valve 28 is seated to close opening 26. As the water level extends above the top of chamber 22, water flows down tube 46 against the upper surface of the cake l4 and continues to flow therein until the space above the cake l4 and the cavity or reservoir 22 is filled. During this time, air escapes by way of opening 48. Since the valve 28 is closed, no solution escapes from the chamber 22 until the toilet is flushed.

When the toilet is flushed, and the water level lowers sufficiently, the float assembly falls to a lower position, as shown in FIG. 1, and the solution contained in cavity 22 beings flowing out the spout 24 by way of passage 26 and into the last quantity of flush water leaving the tank. The flush water preferably continues to fall a slight bit below the valve opening position indicated at approximately B to a level such as A which may generally represent approximately that quantity of water that remains in the toilet bowl after flushing.

A critical feature of the present apparatus is that during the flush cycle, water falls below the dispensing tube level so that a quantity of the solution will flow into the toilet bowl. This is taken care of by the height of the container 12 for the standard flush tank. In other instances, a block of suitable thickness may be placed on the bottom 16 on which to rest the container 12.

As the flush tank refills, and the water level rises to a level such as indicated at C in FIG. 2, the float assembly rises to close the valve 28 and prevent further discharge of solution from the chamber 22. As the water continues to rise above the top of the chamber 20, it

begins to flow into the water inlet tube 46, as previously described. The flow of water into close proximity of the upper surface of the material 14 causes agitation and the formation of further solution to fill the reservoir 22 as air escapes by way of air vent 48. This cycle is automatically repeated as the toilet is flushed, with the dispensing apparatus operative only toward the very end of the flush cycle to dispense the sanitizing solution into the flush water.

Thus, it can be seen that there is disclosed a simple and inexpensive dispensing apparatus, to be placed in the flush tank of a toilet. that is responsive automatically to dispense sanitizing solution into the toilet flush water at the end of the flush cycle. A float operated valve means is operative to control the dispensing of the solution at the predetermined position in the cycle.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment, it is to be understood that numerous changes and modifications may be made in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic dispenser to be submerged in a body of liquid in a toilet flush tank, comprising a receptacle having a vertically oriented open top for containing a cake of soluble material;

means including a closure member for said receptacle having upwardly extending walls forming a cylindrical solution chamber portion extending above the remainder of said closure member and said ma- 4 terial;

means including an opening in the top of said chamber for admitting liquid into said chamber;

discharge conduit means including a float operated valve communicating directly with said solution chamber and operative to communicate solution from said chamber to the exterior of said receptacle; and

annular float means encircling said chamber and connected to said valve means to control communication of said discharge means to permit flow from said chamber into a body of liquid in which said receptacle is submerged when the level of said liquid falls below said solution chamber.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said float means comprises an inverted air cavity.

3. The invention of claim 1 comprising means extending through the top of said solution chamber for connecting said float means to said valve means.

4. The invention of claim 2 comprising an elongated connecting member extending through the top of said solution chamber for connecting said float means to said valve means.

5. The invention of claim 3 wherein said float means comprises annular wall means defining a cylindrical body member extending around the outside of the walls of said chamber and skirt means extending outward from said wall means to define said air cavity.

6. An automatic dispenser for a toilet flush tank, said dispenser comprising:

a vertically oriented upright receptacle having horizontally oriented opening for receiving a charge of soluble material and adapted to rest on the bottom of a flush tank;

said receptacle having a closure assembly for said opening having a portion including upwardly extending walls defining a cylindrical solution chamber projecting above said opening;

means defining openings in the top of said chamber for admitting surrounding water into said receptacle via said chamber when the water level is above said closure member;

discharge means communicating directly from the bottom of said solution chamber to the exterior of said receptacle; and

valve means in said discharge means connected to annular float means surrounding and externally of said chamber responsive to a drop in the level of water in said tank below said discharge means during a flush cycle to discharge solution from said chamber at the end of said flush cycle.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said float means comprises an inverted air cavity.

8. The invention of claim 7 comprising means extending through the top of said solution chamber for connecting said float means to said valve means.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said float means comprises annular wall means defining a cylindrical body member encircling the walls of said solution chamber and skirt means extending outward from said wall means to define said air cavity. 

1. An automatic dispenser to be submerged in a body of liquid in a toilet flush tank, comprising a receptacle having a vertically oriented open top for containing a cake of soluble material; means including a closure member for said receptacle having upwardly extending walls forming a cylindrical solution chamber portion extending above the remainder of said closure member and said material; means including an opening in the top of said chamber for admitting liquid into said chamber; discharge conduit means including a float operated valve communicating directly with said solution chamber and operative to communicate solution from said chamber to the exterior of said receptacle; and annular float means encircling said chamber and connected to said valve means to control communication of said discharge means to permit flow from said chamber into a body of liquid in which said receptacle is submerged when the level of said liquid falls below said solution chamber.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said float means comprises an inverted air cavity.
 3. The invention of claim 1 comprising means extending through the top of said solution chamber for connecting said float means to said valve means.
 4. The invention of claim 2 comprising an elongated connecting member extending through the top of said solution chamber for connecting said float meaNs to said valve means.
 5. The invention of claim 3 wherein said float means comprises annular wall means defining a cylindrical body member extending around the outside of the walls of said chamber and skirt means extending outward from said wall means to define said air cavity.
 6. An automatic dispenser for a toilet flush tank, said dispenser comprising: a vertically oriented upright receptacle having horizontally oriented opening for receiving a charge of soluble material and adapted to rest on the bottom of a flush tank; said receptacle having a closure assembly for said opening having a portion including upwardly extending walls defining a cylindrical solution chamber projecting above said opening; means defining openings in the top of said chamber for admitting surrounding water into said receptacle via said chamber when the water level is above said closure member; discharge means communicating directly from the bottom of said solution chamber to the exterior of said receptacle; and valve means in said discharge means connected to annular float means surrounding and externally of said chamber responsive to a drop in the level of water in said tank below said discharge means during a flush cycle to discharge solution from said chamber at the end of said flush cycle.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said float means comprises an inverted air cavity.
 8. The invention of claim 7 comprising means extending through the top of said solution chamber for connecting said float means to said valve means.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said float means comprises annular wall means defining a cylindrical body member encircling the walls of said solution chamber and skirt means extending outward from said wall means to define said air cavity. 